Gastroenterology

Patients can undergo the following gastroenterological treatments to help them achieve optimal gastric health.

Colonoscopy

A colonoscopy is a procedure conducted to examine the large intestine and the rectum. The doctor diagnoses lower gastrointestinal tract diseases and treats them during the procedure.

During a colonoscopy, a long flexible tube with a light source and camera is inserted in the rectum, allowing doctors to look for polyps, inflammation, or other abnormalities in the colon.

Pancreatectomy

A pancreatectomy is a surgical procedure that removes a part or all of the pancreas. For pancreatic diseases like chronic pancreatitis or pancreatic tumour, a pancreatectomy becomes necessary to reduce symptoms and treat the condition. There are four types of pancreatectomy – distal pancreatectomy, central pancreatectomy, Whipple procedure, and total pancreatectomy.

Haemorrhoidectomy

A haemorrhoidectomy is a procedure to treat and remove haemorrhoids, enlarged blood vessels inside or around the rectum and anus. The condition is more commonly called piles. Large haemorrhoids that prolapse keep returning and are severe get treated with a haemorrhoidectomy.

Whipple Surgery

Whipple surgery, also known as pancreaticoduodenectomy, is prescribed when dealing with complex pancreatic conditions such as pancreatic cancer or tumours. It is a surgical procedure where the surgeon removes the head of the pancreas, a section of the small intestine, a part of the bile duct, the gallbladder, and any related lymph nodes.

Ileostomy

An ileostomy is performed when the colon and rectum cannot be used to discard waste material from the body. It is a surgery that connects the end of the small intestine to the stomach, resulting in an opening in the abdomen for the waste material to exit into a pouch that attaches to the abdomen.

Diverticulitis Treatment

Diverticulitis is a condition where small pouches in the colon wall become inflamed or infected, causing discomfort, pain, nausea, fever, and other complications. Medication and a liquid diet are the general treatment for uncomplicated diverticulitis. For complicated diverticulitis, surgery may be done to remove the diseased parts, or a colostomy may be done, followed by a bowel resection.

Ulcerative Colitis Treatment

Ulcerative colitis is a chronic condition where the digestive tract, particularly the colon and rectum, becomes inflamed, and ulcers develop. It is an inflammatory bowel disease which is treated by medications, and in severe conditions, surgery to remove a portion of the bowel followed by an ileostomy.